My blogging fingers sent out the SOS this week, " Houston we have a problem". Not only has it rained every day virtually making photography a washout, but there really hasn't been a whole lot to say or a whole lot of time to say it for that matter. We're all running around trying to get some order back into our lives as the school year begins. Since day one of school, I can already sense some unraveling of our well intentioned plans. Life feels much like the chocolate packing episode from "I love Lucy", where we feel like things are coming at us at warp speed despite our best efforts. Like Lucy, "I think we may be fighting a losing game."But like the clown in this picture I say,"c'mon, Hit me with your best shot!" Strange things happen when kids are left to their own devices in middle school. My daughter finds herself never opening her locker and lugging 60 pounds of books and such because she truly cant seem to figure out her locker combination. I have offered to arrange a late night meet-up in the school hall way so I can show her the ropes. Peter on the other hand has mastered his lock. Rather than leave all the school supplies that he carried to school on the first day in the locker, he has somehow managed to bring it back and forth every day forgetting what the actual purpose of the locker really is. By year's end, if we stay on this pattern, both Kate and Peter will have the strength to move mountains. Peter has decided to run and bike to school this year. Following in his fathers footsteps, his self propelled commute has caused me to spend more money on lights and reflective material than the cost of filling my daughter's wardrobe with enough clothes for a millennium. Who would have ever known that "don't hit me yellow" could become a middle school trend. To all those driving around Memorial School, remember that my kid is out there (lit up like a Christmas tree), so please try to slow down. Last nights dinner table shocker was that my son signed up for chorus. This is coming from the boy that barely opened his mouth during choral shows in the past and would rather make farting sounds. We're thrilled! I attribute it to the reputation of the coolness of the music teacher who's (abbreviated) name is Mr. Shue, just like the guy from Glee! Chorus has also wooed him in that he has reluctantly become a fan of Glee, a requirement dictated by his sister. I hope that he realizes that the Glee singers are all paid millions to sing with such glee and that he'll have to find his own glee from deep within. As the kids have charted their course around the rocky waters, I too have set sail into the abyss. I have managed not to sleep through one alarm despite my body's willingness to do so. On the first day of school, I sent in lunches that were by my standards, practically gourmet . But even as the week wanes, I looked questionably at the near rainbow colored meat as I deliberated it's risk to my minors. Foreign languages have also plagued me. Since Kate was told has to take French despite her wishes to learn Spanish, I have been sent on a wild goose chase trying to find a French/English dictionary. Unable to find this dictionary has made me realize that higher institutions like Walmart sadly don't even know what French is and that real book stores no longer exist. As a culture, I think were screwed. But all is not lost. Since our return from Ireland, I have happily been bombarded by photography inquires hoping it's a sign of good things to come. I have come to realize that balancing what is motherhood, Go Far, and photography along with the smaller "hats" I wear, may have me stuffing chocolates down my shirt, much like Lucy. At least life will be sweet.

I love reading your blog everyday, Jen. It is nice to know that there are people out there that are having the same issues and feelings I am! You have a knack to describe it in such a humorous and eloquent way!! Thanks for bringing the humor to it. I am realizing that three kids in three different schools is actually quite funny!!! Bring on the chocolates!! :~)